Providing Subscription Content Using Hosted Media Profile

ABSTRACT

A method, system, GUI, apparatus, and machine-readable media for enabling a customer to access information associated with a hosted user profile via a third party information source are provided. A customer may request information associated with a user profile via a mechanism provided by a third party information source via, for example, a mobile communications device. The customer may be enabled to access the information associated with the hosted user profile and an account associated with the customer may be updated to reflect the access. An account associated with the user may be updated to show the transaction and a statement regarding transactions associated with the user profile may be prepared and presented to the user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. §120 as a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No.12/417,580 entitled “Method, System, and Graphic User Interface forEnabling a Customer to Access Information Associated with a Hosted UserProfile,” filed Apr. 2, 2009, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. UtilityPatent Application for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Field of Invention

This invention relates to a method, system, graphic user interface(GUI), apparatus, and machine-readable media for enabling a customer toaccess information associated with a hosted user profile via a thirdparty information source.

Discussion of Related Art

Current media file downloading sources such as iTunes™ and Rhapsody™offer customers the ability to purchase and download media files.Typically, these downloading sources receive media files from arecording industry representative and not from a user or artist. Oncereceived, a media file may then be processed and uploaded to a websitehosted by the downloading source so that they may be viewed and/orpurchased by one or more customers. In this way, a user or artist isdenied direct access to the downloading source. The lack of directaccess to a downloading source causes considerable delay in the time ittakes for a media file to get to market. This delay may, in turn, costthe user or artist valuable opportunities and financial benefits.Additionally, the lack of direct access to a downloading source denies auser or artist direct control over a media file they generate or towhich they are otherwise associated.

Other websites, like MySpace.com™ and YouTube.com™, enable users toupload media content that may later be viewed by other users of thewebsite. However, this content is not available for download and/orpurchase by a viewing user.

SUMMARY

A method, system, graphic user interface (GUI), apparatus, andmachine-readable media for enabling a customer to access informationassociated with a hosted user profile via a third party informationsource are provided. Exemplary third party information sources include athird party website, a third party short message service(SMS)/multimedia messaging service (MMS) gateway, and/or a wirelessapplication protocol (WAP) site.

According to one embodiment, a customer may be provided with a mechanismto access the hosted user profile via the third party information sourcethrough, for example, a personal or mobile computing device. The userprofile may hosted on, for example, a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and aWAP site. In some cases, the mechanism may be a link or widget that isincluded on a page displayed by the third party information source. Inone embodiment, the mechanism may be provided via a plurality of thirdparty information sources.

A user profile may include information. In some cases, the informationmay be a media file. Exemplary media files include an MP3 file, agraphic file, a ringtone file, a document file, a game file, a wallpaperfile, and a music file. In one embodiment, the information may be asubscription to, for example, information made periodically available onthe hosted user profile. In another embodiment, the user profile may beassociated with a user account. A user account may include informationrelating to the transferring of monetary funds to and/or from the user.

A customer may request access to the user profile via, for example,activating or selecting the mechanism. The customer may be providedaccess to the user profile in response to the request. The customer maythen request to access information associated with a hosted userprofile. The customer may enter personal information and thisinformation may be used to associate the customer with a customeraccount. The customer account may be updated to reflect the requested toaccess the information and other transactions. In some embodiments,updating a customer account may include charging the customer account anamount of money and receiving payment.

A customer may be enabled to access the requested information. In someembodiments, accessing the information may include downloading theinformation. One or more transactions may then be cataloged. A user'saccount may be updated to, for example, indicate a customer'sinformation access. Updating a user account may include, for example,issuing or receiving an electronic funds transfer and/or a paper checkthat may be, for example, transferred from a payment received by theentity hosting the user profile.

A statement may be prepared for the user. This statement may includeinformation regarding various transactions related to the user profile,information associated with the user profile, and/or a website, aSMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site like host website 48, SMS/MMS gateway52, and WAP site 50, respectively including the status or cost of atransaction, and/or any credit due, or debt owed, by the user. Inembodiments where a plurality of mechanisms are provided to a user, thestatement may include information associated with each of the pluralityof mechanisms. The statement may then be provided to the user.

Systems and apparatus for executing the method may include a network anda server computer system. The network may be enabled to facilitatecommunication between a user, a customer, and a server computer system.The server computer system, may be enabled to provide the customer witha mechanism to access the hosted user profile, wherein the user profileincludes information, is associated with a user account, and is hostedon at least one of a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site. Thesystem may also be enabled to receive a request to access the userprofile from a customer via the mechanism, provide the customer withaccess to the user profile, receive a request to access informationassociated with a hosted user profile, receive personal information fromthe customer, and associate the customer with a customer account basedon the received personal information. The system may be further enabledto update the customer account to indicate the requested access to theinformation, enable the customer to access the information update theuser account to indicate the customer's access to the information,prepare, and provide a statement for the user based on the updated useraccount information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and notlimitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a network system in whichaspects of the invention are manifested, consistent with an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating a network system enabled toupdate a user and/or customer account, consistent with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating a network system enabled toupdate a user and/or customer account, consistent with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of a computer system,consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a screenshot of a page showing an exemplary GUI for providinga user with a mechanism to access a user profile and/or informationassociated with a user profile, consistent with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a screenshot of an exemplary GUI for providing a user with astatement of activity regarding the user profile, consistent with anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process 500 for enablinga customer to access information associated with a hosted user profilevia a third party information source, consistent with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a network system 10 for enablinga customer to access a media file uploaded by a user to a hosted userprofile. System 100 includes a user computer system 24, a user mobilesystem 32, the Internet 30, a short message service (SMS)/multimediamessaging service (MMS) network 40, a wireless application protocol(WAP) network 38, a server computer system 22, a website 48, a SMS/MMSgateway 52, a WAP site 50, an application programming interface (API)52, a transcoding service 54, a subscription and purchase managementsystem 56, a content delivery platform and content management system 46,a file server 42, a file database 44, an administrator 58, a third partyuser 60, and communication links 62.

User computer system 24 may communicate with server computer system 22via a web site, such as web site 48, over a network, such as Internet30. User mobile device 32 may communicate with a SMS/MMS gateway, suchas SMS/MMS gateway 52 via, for example an SMS/MMS network such asSMS/MMS network 40. User mobile device 32 may also communicate with aWAP site such as WAP site 50 via a WAP network 38 such as WAP network38.

Server computer system 22 may include a file store in the form of fileserver 42 and a data store in the form of file database 44. Filedatabase 44 may store one or more media files and/or libraries of mediafiles. A library of media files stored by file database 44 may includemedia files imported directly from, for example, a media distributioncompany or a record label like Sony Music™ or Universal Studios™. Filedatabase 44 may be in communication with file server 42. API 52 may be aset of instructions, protocols, methods, and/or functions that enablesystem 100 to perform a request from any of the components of system100.

Content delivery platform and management system 46 may, for example,classify and/or index media files such as ringtones (reduced mediacontent), full-track content, games, wallpaper, graphics, MP3 s, andmedia files using one or more categories. Content delivery platform andmanagement system 46 may provide information to a customer regarding amedia file based on, for example, its classification and/or indexing.Media files to be indexed may be from, for example, a file server suchas file server 42. Indexed media files may be stored in, for example, astructured manner that may enable accessing the media file and/ordownloading the indexed media file to a website like website 48, a WAPsite like WAP site 50, a SMS/MMS gateway like SMS/MMS gateway 52, and/ora transcoding service like transcoding service 54. Indexed media filesmay be stored in a database like file database 44.

Subscription and purchase management system 56 may include instructionsthat may enable the managing of subscriptions to, for example, a hostwebsite, a user profile, and/or a media file. Subscription and purchasemanagement system 56 may also include instructions that may enable themanaging of the purchase of a subscription and/or access to a mediafile. Subscription and purchase management system 56 may enable theupdating of a customer account to indicate, for example, the customersaccess of a website like website 48, a WAP site like WAP site 50, aSMS/MMS gateway like SMS/MMS gateway 52, a user profile, or a mediafile. Subscription and purchase management system 56 may also enableproviding a customer with access to a good or service when the customercommunicates with, for example, a website like website 48, a WAP sitelike WAP site 50, a SMS/MMS gateway like SMS/MMS gateway 52.

Transcoding service 54 may prepare communication suitable fortransmission over internet 30, WAP network 38, and/or SMS/MMS network40. Administrator 58 may be any administrator of server computer system22 and may provide instructions to one or more components of servercomputer system 22. Third party user 60 may be any third party not incommunication with to the website 48, SMS/MMS gateway 52 and WAP site50. Third party user 60 may be enabled to access API 52 via, forexample, a widget, API, or link external to server computer system 22.

Communication between one or more components of system 100 may be madevia a communication link like communication link 62. Communication links62 may be any appropriate communication link and may be wired orwireless.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating a network system 101 enabled toupdate a user and customer account. System 101 may include file database44, subscription and purchase management system 56, content deliveryplatform and content management system 46, a financial institution 130,and communication links 62. File database 44 may include, for example, auser information module 105, a user account module 110, a customerinformation module 115, a customer account module 120, and a media file125.

Financial institution 130 may be any entity capable of conductingfinancial transactions such as an electronic or paper funds transfer.Exemplary financial institutions include banks, credit card companies,and PayPal™. Financial institution 130 may be able to access, withdraw,and/or deposit funds related to user account 110 and/or customer account120. Financial institution 130 may also be able to update a user accountmodule 110 and/or customer account module 120 to reflect, for example, atransaction.

User information module 105 may include information regarding a user.Exemplary information includes login information such as a password anduser identification and/or a user profile and/or information associatedwith a user profile and/or media file. A user profile may include, forexample, information regarding the user's interests, a musical groupthat he or she belongs to, a genre of art that he or she contributes to,and/or information regarding media files he or she has uploaded to theuser profile. User information module 105 may be in communication with,for example, user account module 110 and/or media file module 125.

User account module 110 may include, for example, information regardingan account the user has with a host website, SMS/MMS gateway, and/or WAPsite such as website 48, SMS/MMS gateway 52, and/or WAP site 50.Information included in user account module 110 may be, for example, alist of media files uploaded to user information module 105, the statusof the uploaded media files, how many customers accessed his or herprofile and/or uploaded media file, a statement prepared for the user,and any credit or debit account balance owed or due to the user. Useraccount module 110 may be in communication with, for example, userinformation module 105.

Customer information module 115 may include information regarding acustomer. A customer may be any individual and/or entity requestingaccess to a media file. Exemplary information includes login informationsuch as a password and user identification and/or a customer profile. Acustomer profile may include, for example, information regarding his orher interests, a genre of art that they contribute to, and/orinformation regarding media files he or she has uploaded to the userprofile. Customer information module 115 may also include informationregarding media files access and/or downloaded by the customer and/or aservice or periodically issued media file that the customer subscribesto. Customer information module 115 may be in communication with, forexample, customer account module 120 and/or media file module 125.

Customer account module 120 may include information regarding an accountthe user has with a host website, SMS/MMS gateway, and/or WAP site suchas website 48, SMS/MMS gateway 52, and/or WAP site 50. Customer accountmodule 120 may also include an accounting of the number of media filesaccessed by and/or downloaded to customer information module 115, thestatus of an accessed/downloaded media file, the media files and/or userprofiles he or she has accessed, a statement prepared for the customer,and any credit or debit account balance owed, or due to, the customer.

Media file module 125 may include one or more media files uploaded by auser to his or her profile. A media file uploaded to media file 125 maybe accessed/downloaded by a customer via, for example, customerinformation module 115. Exemplary media files include an MP3 file, agraphic file, a ringtone file, a document file, a game file, and a musicfile. Media file module 125 may be accessed by, for example, userinformation module 105, and/or customer information module 115.

A user and/or customer may communicate with file database 44, userinformation module 105, user account module 110, customer informationmodule 115, customer account module 120, and/or media file 125 via, forexample, website 48, SMS/MMS gateway 52, and/or WAP site 50 overcommunication links 62.

FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating a network system 150 enabled toupdate a user and customer account. System 150 may include file database44, subscription and purchase management system 56, content deliveryplatform and content management system 46, API 52, financial institution130, a customer information module 115, a customer account module 120,and communication links 62. File database 44 may include, for example,user information module 105, user account module 110, and media file125.

Customer information module 115 may communicate with API 52 overcommunication link 62. This communication may include a request to, forexample, access a user profile or access a media file. API 52 may beenabled to communicate with content delivery platform and contentmanagement system 46. This communication may include, for example, therequest to, for example, access a user profile or access/download amedia file and a response to the request. Content delivery platform andcontent management system 46 may be in communication with subscriptionand purchase management system 56. This communication may relate to asubscription and/or payment required from the customer to access arequested profile and/or media file. Subscription and purchasemanagement system 56 may be in communication with customer accountmodule 120 and/or financial institution 130 in order to, for example,execute the payment for access a requested profile and/or media file.Once executed, customer account module 120 and/or user account module110 may be updated to reflect the transaction.

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exemplaryform of a computer system 200 within which a set of instructions forcausing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, themachine may operate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g.,networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine mayoperate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in aserver-client network environment, or as a peer machine in apeer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may be apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a PersonalDigital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, anetwork router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing aset of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to betaken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine isillustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include anycollection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (ormultiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein.

The exemplary computer system 200 includes a processor 202 (e.g., acentral processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), orboth), a main memory 204 (e.g., read only memory (ROM), flash memory,dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) orRambus DRAM (RDRAM), etc.), and a static memory 206 (e.g., flash memory,static random access memory (SRAM), etc.), which communicate with eachother via a bus 208.

The computer system 200 may further include a video display 210 (e.g., aliquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computersystem 200 may also include an alpha-numeric input device 212 (e.g., akeyboard or touch screen), a cursor control device 214 (e.g., a mouse),a disk drive unit 216, a signal generation device 218 (e.g., a speaker),and a network interface device 220.

The disk drive unit 216 includes a machine-readable medium 222 on whichis stored one or more sets of instructions 224 (e.g., software)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein. The software may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 204 and/or within the processor 202 duringexecution thereof by the computer system 200, the main memory 204 andthe processor 202 also constituting machine-readable media.

The software may further be transmitted or received over a network 228via the network interface device 220. Exemplary networks includeInternet 30, SMS/MMS network 40, and WAP network 38.

While machine-readable medium 224 is shown in an exemplary embodiment tobe a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be takento include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized ordistributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that storethe one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium”shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing,encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to,solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, and carrier wavesignals.

The GUis of FIGS. 3 and 4 may be generated, displayed, and managed byany system and/or apparatus enabled to generate them and communicatewith a user and/or a customer such as systems 10, 100, 150, and/or 200.

FIG. 3 is a screenshot of a page showing an exemplary GUI 300 forproviding a user with a mechanism to access a user profile and/orinformation associated with a user profile. GUI 300 may be providedand/or displayed by, for example, a third party web site, SMS/MMSgateway, and/or WAP site. GUI 300 includes a widget 310 and threeexemplary buttons; an I'm a fan button 315, a grab it button 320, and aringtones button 320. A customer may access and/or request access to auser profile and/or information associated with a user by selecting onor more of buttons 315, 320, and/or 325.

FIG. 4 is a screenshot of a page showing an exemplary GUI 400 forproviding a user with a statement of activity regarding the userprofile. GUI 400 may be displayed to a user upon selection of thereports tab 405. The name or title of the user profile may be displayedin heading 410.

A user may select a reporting view under a reporting view heading 415.Selecting a reporting view enables a user to view information related toa source of data associated with their user profile. For example, a usermay have mechanisms for accessing their user profile available onvarious platforms or websites, such as mySpace.com, FaceBook.com, and/ora personal website. A user may wish to view information related to onlyone of these platforms. In this case, he or she would select the one ofexemplary reporting views ptrx 425, thpcampid 430, and thpcid 435,wherein each of these reporting views is associated with a differentplatform or website. Upon selection of a reporting view, informationregarding activity related to the selected platform or website may bedisplayed. When a user desires to view information related to all of theplatforms or websites associated with their user profile, he or she mayselect the summary reporting view 420. Following this selection, asummary of all activity related to the user profile may be displayed asshown in FIG. 4.

A user may also select a manner of sorting the data shown on a report.For example, GUI 400 shows a sorting option of “by dates” 440. Otherexemplary sorting options include sorting by day, week, month, or mostrecent activity. Optionally, one or more text boxes 440 may be displayedwherein a user may enter a date or date range for information to beshown in a statement or report. A user may select or “click on,” forexample, a button 445 shown on the GUI to apply the selected sortingoption to the data provided on the statement or report.

Exemplary information showing activity and/or transactions regarding auser profile may be provided in table 450. Table 450 may include one ormore headings that may refer to a category of information. Exemplarycategories include the date, volume of traffic, and/or the number ofnew/existing subscriptions, and/or downloads. Information related thecategory and the user profile may be provided on the table under theappropriate heading.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process 500 for enablinga customer to access information associated with a hosted user profilevia a third party information source. Exemplary third party informationsources include a third party website, a third party SMS/MMS gateway,and/or a third party WAP site. A, GUI, apparatus, machine-readablemedia, and/or a system such as systems 100, 101, 150, and 200 mayperform process 500.

In step 505, a customer may be provided with a mechanism to access thehosted user profile via the third party information source through, forexample, a personal or mobile computing device. Exemplary mobilecommunication devices include a mobile telephone and PDA. The userprofile may be hosted on, for example, a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, anda WAP site like website 48, SMS/MMS gateway 52, and WAP site 50,respectively. The mechanism may be, for example, a link or a widget thatis included on a page displayed by the third party information source.An exemplary mechanism is shown in FIG. 3. The mechanism may be providedvia, for example, a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site, such as,a user's website or a commercially available site like mySpace.com™ orFaceBook.com™.

The user profile may include information. In some cases, the informationmay be a media file. Exemplary media files include an MP3 file, agraphic file, a ringtone file, a document file, a game file, a wallpaperfile, and a music file. In one embodiment, the information may be asubscription to, for example, information made periodically available onthe hosted user profile and/or entity hosting the user profile.

In one embodiment, the user profile may be associated with a useraccount. A user account may include information relating to, forexample, a user or administrator of the user profile, and/or informationor media files associated with the user profile. A user account mayinclude information relating to the transferring of monetary funds toand/or from the user.

Monetary funds may be transferred from the user account, for example, aspayment for services rendered by the entity hosting the user profile.Monetary funds may be transferred to the user account as a credit fromthe entity hosting the user profile for fees collected from customerswho accessed information from the hosted user profile. In someembodiments, the mechanism may be provided via a plurality of thirdparty information sources.

In step 510, a request to access the user profile may be received from acustomer via, for example, the mechanism. An exemplary method forreceiving the request may include selecting, by the user, the mechanismby clicking on it with a mouse.

In step 515, the customer may be provided with access to the userprofile. This access may be enabled by a content delivery platform andcontent management system like content delivery platform and contentmanagement system 46 via, for example, a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, anda WAP site like website 48, SMS/MMS gateway 52, and WAP site 50. In step520, a request to access information associated with a hosted userprofile may be received via, for example, a website, a SMS/MMS gateway,a WAP site like website 48, SMS/MMS gateway 52, and WAP site 50.

In step 525, personal information may be received from the customer via,for example, a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and/or a WAP site likewebsite 48, SMS/MMS gateway 52, and/or WAP site 50, respectively.Personal information received from the customer may include, forexample, the customer's name, email address, billing information, logininformation, and/or a password. The customer may then be associated witha customer account based on the received personal information using, forexample, a subscription and purchase management system, such assubscription and purchase management system 56 and/or a financialinstitution like financial institution 130 (step 530). In some cases,the customer may have a previously existing customer account and may beassociated with this account based on the received customer information.In other cases, a new customer account may be generated for the customerusing the received personal information.

In step 535, a customer account may be updated to reflect the requestedto access the information. In some embodiments, updating a customeraccount may include charging the customer account an amount of money andreceiving payment. A customer account may be, for example, an accountwith a bank, a utility provider, a mobile communications provider, atelecommunications provider, a lending institution, and an electroniccommerce institution, wherein the account is associated with thecustomer. A customer account may be resident in, for example, a filedatabase like file database 44 and/or a customer account module, likecustomer account module 120. Updating the customer account may beperformed by, for example, a subscription and purchase managementsystem, such as subscription and purchase management system 56 and/or afinancial institution like financial institution 130. To update acustomer's account, a payment for accessing the requested media file maybe transferred from a customer and/or customer account. Updating thecustomer account may include, for example, an electronic funds transfer,or a credit card, debit card, or PayPal™ transaction.

In step 540, a customer may be enabled to access the requestedinformation via, for example, a content delivery platform and/or contentmanagement system such as content delivery platform and contentmanagement system 46 or a website, a SMS/MMS gateway, and/or a WAP sitesuch as website 48, SMS/MMS gateway 52, and/or WAP site 50,respectively. In some embodiments, accessing the information may includedownloading the information.

In step 545, one or more transactions of process 500 may be catalogedusmg, for example, a content delivery platform and content managementsystem like content delivery platform and content management system 46.

In step 550, a user's account may be updated to, for example, indicate acustomer's information access. A subscription and purchase managementsystem, such as subscription and purchase management system 56 and/or afinancial institution like financial institution 130 may be used toupdate the user's account. Updating a user account may include, forexample, issuing or receiving an electronic funds transfer and/or apaper check that may be, for example, transferred from a paymentreceived by the entity hosting the user profile.

In step 555, a statement may be prepared for the user using, forexample, a subscription and purchase management system, such assubscription and purchase management system 56 and/or a financialinstitution like financial institution 130. This statement may includeinformation regarding various transactions related to the user profile,information associated with the user profile, and/or a website, aSMS/MMS gateway, and a WAP site like host website 48, SMS/MMS gateway52, and WAP site 50, respectively including the status or cost of atransaction, and/or any credit due, or debt owed, by the user. Inembodiments where a plurality of mechanisms are provided to a user, thestatement may include information associated with each of the pluralityof mechanisms. In step 560, the statement may be provided to the uservia, for example, the content delivery platform and content managementsystem. An exemplary statement provided to a user is shown in FIG. 4.Following step 560, process 500 may end.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments aremerely illustrative and not restrictive of the current invention, andthat this invention is not restricted to the specific constructions andarrangements shown and described since modifications may occur to thoseordinarily skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: maintaining, on a servercomputer system including at least one processor: a user informationmodule configured to maintain information associated with a hosted userprofile of a user; a user account module coupled to the user informationmodule, the user account module configured to maintain informationassociated with one or more media files available through the hosteduser profile; a media file module configured to receive and store anupload of the one or more media files available through the hosted userprofile; a customer information module configured to maintaininformation regarding a customer, including subscription informationindicating that particular media files of the one or more media filesavailable through the hosted user profile media files are accessible tothe customer; receiving, from a third party website, a customer requestfor access to requested media files of the one or more media filesavailable through the hosted user profile, wherein the customer requestis associated with the customer; determining, based on the subscriptioninformation, that the customer associated with the customer request hasa subscription associated with the hosted user profile entitling thecustomer to access the requested media files; and in response to thedetermining, enabling the customer to access the requested media filesthrough the hosted user profile using a content delivery platform. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising: updating information includedin a user account, using the user account module, to include updateduser account information indicating that the customer was enabled toaccess the requested media files via the at least one of a plurality ofthird-party information sources.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising: receiving a user selection indicating a selection by a userof one or more selected third-party information sources of the pluralityof third-party information sources; and providing the user with a hosteduser profile activity statement.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theone or more media files include at least one of an MP3 file, a graphicfile, a ringtone file, a document file, a game file, a wallpaper file,or a music file.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the server computersystem is further configured to: periodically issue a media file to thecustomer based on the subscription information.
 6. The method of claim1, wherein the server computer system is further configured to: maintaina customer account module, the customer account module configured tomaintain information about a customer account associated with at leastone of a plurality of third-party information sources.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: providing reports to both the customer andthe user related to access to the hosted user profile by the customer.8. A system comprising: a processor; memory coupled to the processor; aprogram of instructions to be stored in the memory and executed by theprocessor, the program of instructions including: at least oneinstruction to maintain a user information module configured to maintaininformation associated with a hosted user profile of a user; at leastone instruction to maintain a user account module coupled to the userinformation module, the user account module configured to maintaininformation associated with one or more media files available throughthe hosted user profile; at least one instruction to maintain a mediafile module configured to receive and store an upload of the one or moremedia files available through the hosted user profile; at least oneinstruction to maintain a customer information module configured tomaintain information regarding a customer, including subscriptioninformation indicating that particular media files of the one or moremedia files available through the hosted user profile media files areaccessible to the customer; at least one instruction to maintainreceive, from a third party website, a customer request for access torequested media files of the one or more media files available throughthe hosted user profile, wherein the customer request is associated withthe customer; at least one instruction to determine, based on thesubscription information, that the customer associated with the customerrequest has a subscription associated with the hosted user profileentitling the customer to access the requested media files; and at leastone instruction to enable the customer to access the requested mediafiles through the hosted user profile using a content delivery platform,in response to the at least one instruction to determine.
 9. The systemof claim 8, further comprising: at least one instruction to updateinformation included in a user account, using the user account module,to include updated user account information indicating that the customerwas enabled to access the requested media files via the at least one ofa plurality of third-party information sources.
 10. The system of claim9, further comprising: at least one instruction to receive a userselection indicating a selection by a user of one or more selectedthird-party information sources of the plurality of third-partyinformation sources; and at least one instruction to provide the userwith a hosted user profile activity statement.
 11. The system of claim8, wherein the one or more media files include at least one of an MP3file, a graphic file, a ringtone file, a document file, a game file, awallpaper file, or a music file.
 12. The system of claim 8, furthercomprising: at least one instruction to periodically issue a media fileto the customer based on the subscription information.
 13. The system ofclaim 8, further comprising: at least one instruction to maintain acustomer account module, the customer account module configured tomaintain information about a customer account associated with at leastone of a plurality of third-party information sources.
 14. The system ofclaim 8, further comprising: at least one instruction to provide reportsto both the customer and the user related to access to the hosted userprofile by the customer.
 15. A non-transitory machine-readable mediumtangibly embodying a program of instructions configured to be stored ina memory and executed by a processor, the program of instructionsincluding: at least one instruction to maintain a user informationmodule configured to maintain information associated with a hosted userprofile of a user; at least one instruction to maintain a user accountmodule coupled to the user information module, the user account moduleconfigured to maintain information associated with one or more mediafiles available through the hosted user profile; at least oneinstruction to maintain a media file module configured to receive andstore an upload of the one or more media files available through thehosted user profile; at least one instruction to maintain a customerinformation module configured to maintain information regarding acustomer, including subscription information indicating that particularmedia files of the one or more media files available through the hosteduser profile media files are accessible to the customer; at least oneinstruction to maintain receive, from a third party website, a customerrequest for access to requested media files of the one or more mediafiles available through the hosted user profile, wherein the customerrequest is associated with the customer; at least one instruction todetermine, based on the subscription information, that the customerassociated with the customer request has a subscription associated withthe hosted user profile entitling the customer to access the requestedmedia files; and at least one instruction to enable the customer toaccess the requested media files through the hosted user profile using acontent delivery platform, in response to the at least one instructionto determine.
 16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim15, wherein the program of instructions further comprises: at least oneinstruction to update information included in a user account, using theuser account module, to include updated user account informationindicating that the customer was enabled to access the requested mediafiles via the at least one of a plurality of third-party informationsources.
 17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16,wherein the program of instructions further comprises: at least oneinstruction to receive a user selection indicating a selection by a userof one or more selected third-party information sources of the pluralityof third-party information sources; and at least one instruction toprovide the user with a hosted user profile activity statement.
 18. Thenon-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the programof instructions further comprises: at least one instruction toperiodically issue a media file to the customer based on thesubscription information.
 19. The non-transitory machine-readable mediumof claim 15, wherein the program of instructions further comprises: atleast one instruction to maintain a customer account module, thecustomer account module configured to maintain information about acustomer account associated with at least one of a plurality ofthird-party information sources.
 20. The non-transitory machine-readablemedium of claim 15, wherein the program of instructions furthercomprises: at least one instruction to provide reports to both thecustomer and the user related to access to the hosted user profile bythe customer.